Today's Top 10: Presidents Day Facts

1. George Washington, the first President of the United States, birthday is observed on the third Monday in February between February 15 and 21. Even though he was born on February 22, 1732 according to the Gregorian calendar. He opted to begin observing this date when the Gregorian calendar was adopted by the English Colonies in 1752.

2. He was also born Feb. 11, 1731, based on the Julian calendar in use by the British Colonies at the time of his birth. He was born in Colonial Virginia.

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3. Washington's Birthday was declared a "federal" holiday in 1879 by an act of Congress. He was the first American citizen to have a federal holiday commemorating his birthday. Martin Luther King is the only other individual to date. Columbus Day celebrates his arrival to the Americas.

4. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Act, an act of Congress amended the federal holiday provisions of the United States Code moving the observance of "certain" holidays to Mondays. Hence, Washington's Birthday, Feb. 11 (Julian calendar), nor Feb. 22 (Gregorian calendar, which we follow) will never fall on the third Monday in February between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21.

5. Because of this change in day, many people now refer to this holiday as Presidents Day and consider it a day honoring all American Presidents. There has never been an official change in the name. It is still considered a celebration of the birthday of George Washington.

6. Constitutionally, there are no "national holidays" in the United States because Congress only has the authority to create holidays for federal institutions and federal employees and for the District of Columbia. There are instead federal holidays, state holidays and city holidays. In the state of Pennsylvania, the third Monday in the month of February is known as President's Day. You can click on this Wikipedia link to find out what is celebrated today in your state. The majority of states call this Washington's Birthday "federal holiday", President's Day but there are a few who exercise their rights as free and independent states of the United States and calls it as they sees it, so to speak.

7. Since 1893, the U.S. Senate has observed Washington's Birthday by selecting one of its members to read Washington's Farewell Address. Senator Ronald Burris from the state of Illinois will read it this year on the official birthday February 22, at 2pm. Only last year have I myself ever read this amazing document. It was written so many years ago by one of the most revered Presidents of the United States. There are so many great lines in this document. I hope the assembly of elected officials is paying attention to the wise words. Check out this fascinating piece of history. It is available online. Google it! We do live in a changing world BUT this still makes sense.

8. Four United States presidents were born in February, Ronald Reagan, February 6th, William Henry Harrison, February 9th, Abraham Lincoln, February 12 and George Washington, February 22nd. There are no other official holiday's to celebrate any other President's birthday but here is an official list of all Presidential birthdays.

9. In the United States, a federal holiday is a public holiday recognized by the United States Federal government. Non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday sometimes receive holiday pay for that day in addition to their ordinary wages. Often schools are closed making this a long weekend. Typically this is not a paid holiday in the private sector and the original intent to make Monday holidays a family extension to enjoy time together did not exactly pan out. Workers are forced to take a personal day or sick day to be home with their children or pay some one to watch them if a relative is not available.

10. Presidents' Day is widely used to advertise "special" prices during a certain period with the confusion of exacting who, what, when and where we are celebrating. It has also been known to be President's Week and or Presidents' Week.

Me? I am still trying to figure out would I be older or younger if I follow the Julian calendar. Age is just a number right? After all these years, I would imagine George is grateful to be acknowledged at all and we should certainly acknowledge, the world we live in with all its freedoms would be a different place had he not been born and stepped up. We should also recognize any male or female that is willing to take on that challenge. It is a hard job that rarely gets the kudos it deserves.

Happy Birthday tomorrow Feb. 22, to George Washington someone had to take that first step and be a leader! He certainly handled it with honor and valor.

(There is a picture of a statue of George Washington in Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the blog. If anyone has a picture of a Washington memorial they would like to submit, I'd love to add it to the blog. Email it to delcotopten@gmail.com